NEW DELHI, Mar 26: Redbird Airways Pvt Ltd’s nearly 40-year-old Beechcraft C90A aircraft crashed in Jharkhand on February 23 after being airborne for 17 minutes, and the plane’s emergency location transmitter did not get activated, according to probe agency AAIB’s preliminary report.
In the fatal crash that killed the seven people who were onboard, the aircraft VT-AJV was destroyed, and the wreckage was found scattered in the forested area near Simaria in Jharkhand’s Chatra district.
The air ambulance flight from Ranchi to Delhi had 2 pilots, 2 medical personnel, 1 patient and 2 attendants.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said the aircraft took off with 830 litres of fuel from Ranchi airport at 7.07 pm and 7.24 pm on February 23.
On the same day, the plane had operated an air ambulance flight from Delhi to Ranchi by the same set of crew, and on completion of the flight, “nil sang was recorded by the flight crew in the tech log book”.
“The aircraft’s assigned route to Delhi after take-off was W109 on track 297°. But, while lining up on the runway, the aircraft requested ATC Ranchi to continue on the runway heading (track 313°) after take-off, due to weather.
“The request was approved by ATC Ranchi. The aircraft took off from Ranchi at 1337 UTC (7.07 pm IST),” the preliminary report said.
As per the report, at 1348 UTC (7.18 pm), the aircraft transmitted ‘Sir Request to Level off at Flight Level One Four Zero Victor Juliet Victor’ requesting ATC Kolkata for levelling off at FL140 and the ATC approved the request.
At 1349 UTC (7.19 pm), ATC Kolkata asked the aircraft to report when in contact with Varanasi, to which the aircraft acknowledged. This was the last VHF communication between the aircraft and ATC Kolkata.
“Thereafter, no transmission from VT-AJV was received by ATC Kolkata. Subsequently, ATC Kolkata tried to contact VT-AJV but did not receive any response. Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) Kolkata activated Uncertainty Phase at 1428 UTC (2.28 pm). Later, the District Administration, Chatra was intimated of an aircraft accident by locals. The aircraft crashed at about 1354 UTC (7.24 pm),” the report said.
Further, AAIB said the Emergency Location Transmitter (ELT) of the aircraft did not get activated.
As part of the investigation, AAIB said a fuel sample from the refueller at Ranchi was collected and submitted to a fuel testing laboratory for examination.
The investigation team also visited the Ranchi and Kolkata ATC facilities to collect crucial evidence and records. During the visit, interviews and discussions were held with ATCO (Air Traffic Control Officer), WSO (Watch Supervisory Officer), MET (Meteorological) personnel and handlers.
“The weather information from IMD offices situated at Ranchi Airport, Patna Airport, Raipur Airport and Kolkata Airport has been sought, and the analysis is in progress,” it added. (PTI)
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